Children's
Museum Educational Enrichment
Self
Guided Visits
& Programs
for School, Scout, 4-H, Tour Groups,
etc.
| Visit Info * Info on Tours * Hours/Costs * Museum Cafe * Gift Shop * Programs * Group Guidelines * Museum Welcome/Rules * Space Science Programs * Pictures * Directions/Map * Meetings Page * Places to Eat * Educational Materials * Educators Letter * Program Pricing * Floor Map * CM Brochure * '08 CM Events |
![]() |
![]() ABOVE: 5th graders enjoying Mission to Mars program on our 4th floor's NASA area * LEFT: 3rd & 4th graders take part in an Archaelogical Dig program at the Children's Museum Dinosaur/Paleontology Center |
![]() 1st graders enjoying Going on a Bug Hunt program on our 3rd floor's Living Science area |
![]() Group enjoys NASA exhibits & meeting Congressman Boehlert |
![]() Students interacting w/Office of Science exhibits |
![]() Students enjoying Mars Rover exhibits |
![]() Above: Kids of all ages enjoyed HCCC's DNA program; Right: Director Brown welcomes a group of students |
![]() |
![]() Students interacting w/science plasma physics exhibit |
![]() Scout troop take a ride in our airplane as part of their Space Science program |
![]() |
![]() Above: educators & volunteers meet to set up programs; Left: Nate demonstrates 4th floor's Wind Tunnel, built by Civil Air Patrol Cadets |
![]() Geo TimeLine w/Mr. Ben on 2nd fl |
![]() Munchkin Music w/Misses Mandy, Miss Althea & enthusiastic kids on 2nd floor! |
![]() Girl Scout troop enjoys Hank in Animal Room |
![]() Troop learns how to make "volcanoes" |
![]() |
![]() Pre-schooler's play "dentist", above, and learn about electricity & energy, left |
![]() Checking out 3rd floor Animal Room |
![]() Feeding the Animals, Hank the Snake |
![]() Dinosaur & Fossil fun on 2nd floor |
![]() Checking out fossils w/ microscope |
![]() Enjoying educational video on 3rd floor |
![]() Laser Light & Sound tables on 3rd floor |
![]() Weather Exploration w/Miss Joanne |
![]() Miss Jen serenades us on the 2nd fl stage |
![]() Arts & Crafts corner on 3rd floor |
![]() Iroquois Longhouse's Puzzle fun, 2nd fl |
![]() Fun w/our 3rd floor putting green |
![]() Bike & computer fun on our 3rd floor |
![]() Enjoying the 1st floor grocery store |
![]() Playing dentist in 1st fl Exploration Space |
![]() Checking out the Saturn car on 1st floor |
![]() Kids of all ages enjoying interactive exhibits |
![]() Youngsters enjoying exploring the train |
![]() And viewing the sculptures in our park |
![]() |
![]() Puppet Storytime in PlaySpace on the 1st floor w/Miss Marcia for the Oneida Area Daycare Center & Syracuse's Mommy & Me Daycare |
![]() Group checks out Laser Light exhibits |
![]() Another group checks out energy exhibits |
|
|
![]() |
![]() Music & exercise always great fun! |
![]() Enjoying our musical instruments |
![]() Enjoying workshop on Bugs & Insects |
![]() A busy Arts & Crafts program |
![]() Mr. Ben presenting workshop on Fossils to a mesmerized group |
![]() Always popular Music for Munchkins |
![]() Miss Althea conducting tryouts for Theatre Workshop production |
![]() Rehearsing lines on our CM stage |
|
|
![]() School group takes part in "Bug Hunt" |
![]() Playing Post Office in Exploration Center |
![]() Viewing our popular live bee exhibit |
|
![]() Our donated doll house on our 2nd floor stage featured in our Theatre Workshop |
![]() On the 2nd floor, Baby Brach overlooks our new GE Elfuns Fossil Center. |
![]() Storytime for Munchkins puppeteer! |
![]() Music for Munchkins guitarist! |
![]() Mom's Club & kids enjoy Music program |
![]() |
![]() Pictures of Some of the many educational programs & tours CM offers. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Dinosaur Science & Ancient Seas |
![]() Learning to Juggle |
![]() Wooden Models |
![]() Tae Kwondo |
![]() Enjoying Terrific Tracks program |
To pictures * To top * To text |
![]() Learning about insects & bugs & making their own butterflies! |
![]() Playing with one of our musical exhibits (enjoyed by kids & parents!) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Enjoying Exploration Space grocery store; Having fun in Play Space |
![]() Educational Harvest Day program |
|
![]() Smiley the Clown paints faces & hands at the Children's Museum |
![]() President Marlene Brown & her grandchildren introduce Columbus School |
![]() |
![]() School Group enjoys Museum's Main St. |
![]() Watching the animals being fed |
![]() The spellbound audience enjoyed |
![]() GE Elfun explains new dinosaur-bird |
|
The Children's Museum educational programs: Our museum offers a safe, enjoyable, interactive learning environment with 3 floors of interactive exhibits, a 4th floor open four times a day, and eating space! Be among the educators who take advantage of the many educational field trip programs available at the Children's Museum. Kids love them and learn from them, and from the interactiveness of our 100's of accompanying educationally enjoyable hands-on exhibits. Our mission is to continue the passion for making the only Children's Museum in Central New York one of the best in the country. What better place to bring...
Educational Enrichment Programs we offer: a great supplement to your classroom or scout activities, with real museum artifacts and exhibits students can touch and interact with! The Museum is a hands-on learning center with emphasis on local history, environmental science, the arts, and space science. The Museum provides educational programs for local school groups, home school groups, scouts, and daycare centers throughout the three county area that we serve, as well as for groups who come in by bus and train from throughout the state. Our Educational Enrichment Programs enhance learning for children of all ages. Teachers and others who book educational field trips are given resource materials for their students to enhance learning after the visit. Dinosaur and Fossil Programs Dinosaurs & Fossils (Pre-Kindergarten-2nd grade) Learn about the "terrible lizard" that used to roam the earth. Using puppets & fossils, younger children learn about what dinosaurs did and ate, fossils, teeth, and eggs. Dinosaurs & Fossils (3rd -6th grade) Older students explore fossils & dinosaurs in detail as well as learn how scientists pieced together clues about the "terrible lizard" from the past to distinguish them, extinction myths, and the Mesozoic era. Archeological Dig (1st-3rd grade) Utilizing our Paleontological Activity Center, students will go on a dig for artifacts & fossils. They will learn the proper scientific procedure and the work involved in unlocking the mysteries of our past. Living Science Programs - Animals Where they go in the Snow (2nd-4th) Winter can be a harsh part of the year for our animal friends. Using puppetry, animal skins & shells, we discuss adaptations of animals in order to survive the winter cold & changing weather. Making Tracks (Preschool-2nd grade) Studying animal tracks can generate an interest in nature as well as improve observation skills. Instructors present different animal tracks that children will identify and compare to one another. Living Science Programs - Insects Going On a Bug Hunt (Preschool-3rd grade) Insect puppets bring to life the amazing world of bugs, insects, and arachnids. Children learn & explore what the difference between the three are & how important each is to our world. Going On a Bug Hunt (4th - 6th grade) In this program, children explore and learn how important insects, bugs, and arachnids are to our world, the ways scientists have discovered they help humans, & the importance of pollination to earth's population. Dance of Honeybee (Preschool-4th grade) Culminating with a viewing of our active beehive, children learn the important role of the honeybee, gaining an understanding of the physical & social structure of the beehive and how honey actually gets made. Music Appreciation Programs Music on the Move I (Preschool & Nursery) Exercise and music combine to explore movement and rhythm in a fun and healthy way. Instructors will lead children in activities with music. Children play, interplay, dance and sing with tambourines, cymbals, etc. Music on the Move II (1st - 3rd grades) Exercise and music combine to explore movement and rhythm in a fun and healthy way. Instructors will lead children in activities with music. Children play, interplay, dance and sing with tambourines, cymbals, etc. Native American Indian Programs Moccasins & Sneakers (Preschool-3rd grade) Younger students will be introduced to the Iroquois culture. By utilizing Museum artifacts, children will compare and contrast the lives of the Iroquois who lived in the area 100's of years ago, to their own lives. Moccasins & Sneakers (4-6th grade) Older students will analyze Iroquois life with hands-on Museum artifacts such as tools, clothing & an exact replica of the Longhouse, with attention given to Native American legends & spirits & Iroquois belief system. The Harvest Feast (Preschool-3rd grade) Through the use of artifacts, soft-sculpture food and music, children learn how the first Thanksgiving was celebrated, and explore types of food the Native Americans and English settlers did and didn't have. The Harvest Feast (4th - 6th grade) How did the Thanksgiving celebration impact the history of our country? Through the use of artifacts, soft-sculpture food & music, children learn how early Native Americans helped the English settle NYS. NYS History Programs History's in the Bag (4th-6th grade) We learn about people from items they owned and used. Here, children analyze historical artifacts, and draw conclusions about the life and work of early CNY residents by what they left behind. Erie Canal History (4th-6th grade) This program discusses the beginnings of Utica, how it was named, how the Erie Canal impacted life here and throughout the country, as well as folks from the Utica area who created some of our greatest legacies. Intro to Geology of NYS (1st-6th grade) From volcanic islands to mile thick glaciers, NYS's landscape has been shaped by a variety of geologic forces. Students discover importance of rocks & how geologists use maps/tools to learn more about the earth. Science Exploration Programs All Wound Up (2nd-4th Grade) Students will learn about magnetism and build an electromagnet. They will explore properties of electromagnetism in a fun and informative environment. Different Strokes (2nd - 4th Grade) Students will learn about permanent magnets and explore the properties of magnets and magnetic fields. They will learn how a simple nail can become a permanent magnet. All Powered Up (4th - 5th Grade) How does an electric circuit work? What is the difference between an in series circuit and parallel circuit? Students will learn about electricity by building some simple electric circuits and compare the way they work. Rub-a-Dub-Dub (Preschool - 3rd Grade) Principles of static electricity are explored in a fun and informative way. Students will use balloons to learn about attraction and repulsion and even make an electrometer. Making Gluep (1st - 4th Grade) Can two liquids make a solid? Students will get make their own Gluep as they learn about changes in the state of matter. This is a gooey, fun learning experience. Mighty Microscopes (3rd-6th Grade) Microscopes reveal a new view of common items. Have you ever seen salt and sugar crystals? Did you know every tiny seed is different? Students will explore these and more with microscopes. Urban Wildlife - (3rd - 6th Grade) Children will learn that their backyards are home to many different wild animals. They will learn to identify these animals, and why the Utica Marsh & the environment are important? Space Exploration Programs Space Science Exploration (Preschool - 3rd Grade) In this program, the children learn about the 100 years of flight and why we explore space. Children will interact with our NASA and Office of Science exhibits and take a "ride" in our airplane! Space Exploration (4th-6th Grade) In this program, children learn how space exploration helps Science and understand the connection between their everyday life and their future through space exploration, scientific discoveries, and the International Space Station. They will observe and interact with our NASA exhibits & artifacts, including Mars Rover/Lunar Lander/Space Shuttle/Rockets. Mission MARS (1st-3rd Grade) In this program, students will learn about the status of the Mars Rover Spirit & Opportunity missions, and why we need to examine the sites on Mars. They will also help create an Imagine Mars mural. Mission MARS (4th-6th Grade) See how scientists and engineers on Earth stretched their imaginations to design the best rover system to deal with unpredictable dangerous terrain on Mars, Earth's neighbor, a world much like our own, but much more hostile. They will also take part in a team mission. Teamwork for a Future in Space (3rd-6th Grade) Youngsters will work in teams to design their own unique Space Patch in our new Mission Control Center. Not only will they learn the importance of teamwork, they will emulate what the NASA space teams do when they launch shuttles. Toys in Space (4th-6th Grade) Would your
toys work in zero gravity? NASA astronauts brought a series of toys
on a shuttle mission to find out! Now you can do these physics experiments
here on earth! Weather Science Programs Creating a Tornado (preschool-3rd grade) Students will learn about the formation of a tornado as they hear amazing tornado facts and see pictures of real tornadoes. During a science demonstration, they will experience firsthand how a tornado is formed. Vortex in a Jar (preschool-3rd grade) As they learn important facts and view storm photos, students will learn what a vortex is and discover the role that it plays in tornado formation. In a hands-on experiment, students will participate in creating a vortex. Making a Rainbow (preschool-3rd grade) Students will learn how a rainbow is formed and the order of colors in a rainbow. As a result of a hands-on science demonstration, they will observe a rainbow indoors! The Magic of Clouds (preschool-3rd grade) Students will learn how clouds form and discover how different types of clouds help to predict weather. During a demonstration, students will observe cloud formation in a jar. Wooly Bears & Weather Folks (3rd - 6th grade) Explore changing weather patterns using prediction techniques of today and yesterday in our Weather Station, & techniques used by local meteorologists and good old American lore. REGISTER for programs via phone, email Director Marlene or complete our online form. One of the oldest Children's Museum's in the country, founded in 1963, we're the only Children's Museum in the country to have been adopted by both NASA & Dept. of Energy's Office of Science! ~ Check program pricing ~ Download Program flyer ~ View our directions ~ Visit Activities (some programs have a fee for materials, most are included in admission fee): DAILY ACTIVITIES AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TOPICS/DAYS: Check out our Monthly Event Flyer on our New Stuff page. Music Category:
Art Category:
Reading Category:
Science Category:
Creating Category:
History Category:
Space Category:
Living Science Category:
~ View our monthly program/event flyer ~ View our directions ~ Email us for more information ~
Guidelines for School & Day-Care Groups Welcome to the Children's Museum. Our diverse collection of hands-on exhibits and educational programs is an invaluable resource for school groups in the Central New York area and more than 150,000 visitors a year. Enjoy your visit! To ensure the health and safety of your students and all of our visitors, we ask that you review the following guidelines with students prior to your visit to CM. Supervision of students in the Museum is imperative; unsupervised students or children should not wander around the Museum. Our guidelines are one (1) responsible adult chaperone for every six (6) students to make the most of your educational experience. This adult/student ratio is particularly important on the upper floors. General - Running is not permitted anywhere in the Children's Museum, nor is swinging on the curtains on our stage area. Portable radios, cassette, or disc players that are audible to other visitors in the Museum are not permitted. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times while in the Museum, except for children under 5 while they are in PlaySpace. For everyone's safety, do not pet or taunt animals in our Living Science Area. Thank you for reviewing these CM rules with students and chaperones. By observing these guidelines and supervising students, you are also helping to ensure the health and well-being of our ever-growing children's museum for present and future generations. A Before-You-Visit Review Suggestion - Before you review this list of guidelines with your school group, ask your students to first list ways that the Children's Museum is different from a Park or Zoo. A partial list of rules for appropriate behavior and conduct may emerge from this discussion based on a student's experience and understanding of all that the Children's Museum has to offer. You can then review any remaining rules and guidelines on this sheet that have not been raised by your students. Educational Materials - Teachers of groups that book programs are given educational handout materials for each of their students on the visit, for them to reinforce what's learned on the field trip. Traveling by Bus - Buses should drop off students at our front entrance on Main Street, by the Museum Entrance sign. After students disembark, buses may park further down Main Street or in the Parking Lot across from the Museum. Signs for Children's Museum parking are fully visible. Accessibility for Physically Challenged: We have a ramp right next to the Main entrance for wheelchairs and others who may have trouble navigating the few steps to the Museum's entrance. While we encourage groups to use our beautiful oak stairway to visit the upper floors, we do have an elevator that goes to all floors. Restrooms are available on the first floor. To pix* To top * To text
Food & Beverages & Museum Cafe': Food, Snacks, Lunches - a place to eat. For safety reasons, food & beverages are not allowed anywhere on the floors or in our exhibit areas. Visitors may bring bag lunches or snack to eat in our 1st floor Birthday room, or on our 1st floor bench by our museum back door, or on the picnic table on our covered train platform outside our door, or (weather permitting) in our historic park outside. We have popcorn, snack bags (chips etc.), soda, juice, and water available for purchase. If our museum chef is on site, you can order in advance from our Museum Café ). You may also get your hand stamped and drive to a local restaurant (there are several within a mile) and return after lunch. Catering in our Museum Kitchen - The Museum Cafe, where food may be purchased during the 12noon to 1pm time frame (provided the order is placed at the front desk by 11:30am), is located on the first floor of the Museum. If you are interested in having us cater your meal or provide a snack for you, please let us know prior to your visit so we may plan accordingly. Download Cafe Menu. Catering in our Museum Café – Visitors
who wish to do so may order food to be eaten in the 12pm-1pm time frame
in the Museum Café located on our museum’s 1st floor -
provided order is placed at the front desk by 11:30am. Salad & platters
are not available for individual orders. Following is our Museum Café Menu (pre-ordered):
Saturday's we host birthday parties, so 1st Floor Cafe/Birthday room may not be available. If this is the case, individuals may eat on the bench by our back door, or on the bench out by our train, or on the benches in our park. However, we still can accomodate groups who book in visits or programs on Saturday's, and they may order ahead of time (at least 72 hours in advance) from the full menu. General - Running is not permitted anywhere in the Children's Museum, nor is swinging on the curtains on our stage area. Portable radios, cassette, or disc players that are audible to other visitors in the Museum are not permitted. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times while in the Museum, except for the under 5 children while they are in PlaySpace. For everyone's safety, do not pet or taunt animals in our Living Science Area. Museum Gift Shop Gift Shop - Our CM Gift Shop is open daily with items priced from $1. to $20. and many at only $3. or $4. Among the gifts are space science related items, our Children's Museum mug and ornament, along with a neat variety of items. Meetings and/or Tours: Welcome to the Children's Museum. Our diverse collection of hands-on exhibits and unique meeting space is an invaluable resource for groups. Book your meeting or visit today! Accessibility for Physically Challenged: We have a ramp right next to the Main entrance for wheelchairs and others who may have trouble navigating the few steps to the Museum's entrance. While we encourage groups to use our beautiful oak stairway to visit the upper floors, we do have an elevator that goes to all floors. Restrooms are available on the first floor.
For more information, check out our Meetings page; call us at 315-724-6129, or email us so we can check to see if the dates you want are avilable.
Normal
Museum Hours: Check our Online Calendar for special event & holiday schedule, renovation closings, etc. Admission
(at the door): Group
Rates - Self Guided Visit & Tour of 4 floors Only (pre-booked): Group
Rates - Visit or Tour plus Educational Program (pre-booked): (Coupons not valid with group pricing) Daily activities and viewing of all four floors is included in the admission price, visit fee, and program fee. Book your program today by calling
315-724-6129, or fill out our
easy online form so we can check to see if
the dates you want are avilable. (coupons
not valid with group rates)
Other
Special programs offered: Keep checking the website, pick up flyers in the Museum,
and continue to enjoy our fun and educational events in a safe learning
environment! View the latest news on our New
Stuff Page. And find out more on our About
Us page.
The
Children's Museum of History, Living History, Science & Technology To home page * To top * Email * To Children's Museum website home page |